NHL

Last week, goalie Martin Biron signed a two-year, $2.6 million contract to remain with the New York Rangers.

The Buffalo Sabres 16th overall pick in the 1995 draft has become quite the journeyman in the Atlantic Division. He’s played for the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Rangers. He’s also played over 500 career NHL games.

But, how much of an impact does his new two-year contract have on the rest of the NHL?

For starters, this takes one of the league’s top backup goalies off the market. Though he’s aging (34), he might still be able to carry the load for a team.

Some teams, such as the Chicago Blackhawks, seem...

The New York Islanders were very active yesterday, acquiring three new players on the open market on the first day of NHL Free Agency. Forward Brad Boyes was signed to a one-year, $1 million deal and was soon followed by defenseman Matt Carkner's three-year contract worth $4.5 million.

Not long after these signings, former Islanders forward P.A. Parenteau inked a four-year, $16 million deal with the Colorado Avalance. Although many on twitter felt that the Isles could have easily afforded Parenteau's new contract, it still made plenty of sense to let him go. Four years for a 29 year old hockey player that only had one season worthy of top line honors and only two full seasons of NHL experience is a lot to commit too. In addition, Matt Moulson presently makes less per year than Parenteau's new contract. Moulson has been a consistent thirty goal scorer since joining the Islanders and has maintained chemistry with his long-time buddy, John Tavares. GM Garth Snow must have seen the risks in possibly off-setting the locker room if he showed that he felt Parenteau was more deserving a higher salary to go along with the other risk factors involved in that contract. With that being said, I wish Parenteau the best of luck and will look forward to seeing him return to Coliseum ice.

But in every difficulty lies an opportunity, and that is what Brad Boyes has been given.

The Dallas Stars beefed up on defense, continuing the big-man philosophy by inking defenseman Aaron Rome to a three year contract worth $4.5 million total. Rome, a physical depth defenseman most notably remembered for his crushing hit on Nathan Horton during the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, will likely be stuck on the lower end of the defense crew.

Rome, 28, is best known for his stay-at-home defense style. He spent the last three years with the Vancouver Canucks, totaling just 5 goals and 14 assists over that span. 

"Aaron is a physical defensive defenseman who adds size and grit to our blue line," GM Joe Nieuwendyk said in the Stars' official press release. &qu...

The Dallas Stars lost a pretty critical piece in Mike Ribeiro last week, but they found another magical playmaker in the process to replace him. According to TSN's Aaron Ward, the Stars signed 40-year-old Ray Whitney to a two year deal worth $9 million total.

Whitney played with the Phoenix Coyotes last season, playing a significant role on their run to the Conference Final by scoring 77 points during the regular season and seven points in the playoffs.

Whitney, a left winger drafted in 1991, has been a consistent point producer and a bit of a floater in his NHL career. This will be his eighth stop in the NHL, formerly playing in San Jose, Florida, Columbus, Edmonton, Detr...